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Finding ways to lower transportation costs has never been more important than in the age of ever-lasting disruption. As truckload capacity tightens, more companies find themselves faced with a choice between paying the cost of higher shipping or passing it along to customers, affecting all facets of freight management along the way. For instance, as carrier rejection rates increase in outbound tenders, shown above, rates will climb, and predictions within the current FWS7.USA ticker show a trend toward significant increases going forward. However, those rates directly relate back to and drive short-term bids on other loads, whether full truckload, less-than-truckload or another shipping option. Yes, the rates may surround contract at the time, but that information is invaluable to all shippers and freight management parties.
Simultaneously, it becomes a choice between paying extra and getting freight to the customer faster or delaying the shipment and hoping the customer doesn’t bounce to Amazon.
Unfortunately, the risk of losing a customer for either issue – a delay or a higher cost – is simply too great to ignore. Fortunately, that’s where and why many organizations are turning to less-than-truckload, also known as LTL, to source more capacity without the big-time commitments required for full truckload rates. And it’s important to know why.
The biggest impact of less-than-truckload freight management comes from the ability to consider a true alternative to full truckload (TL). At the same time, there’s a massive interest in less-than-truckload among existing and new carriers that provide this mode. According to John D. Schulz in Supply Chain 24/7, “Unlike past years, 2021 will likely be one where a fortuitous combination of pricing discipline and high barriers to entry meet an industry determined not to waste what’s likely a once-a-decade pricing conundrum for shippers fueled by growth in e-commerce.” That’s especially true considering the surging parcel demands created by e-commerce.
Today’s customers are ordering more online and looking forward to receiving it at a faster pace. Unfortunately, full truckload means longer transit times, but tapping the value of a smaller load, while still bigger than parcel, could have the net effect of moving freight without the delays and costs associated with full truckload. As such, customers realize a better price point without necessarily incurring a delay by avoiding a higher rejection risk for the long-haul, full moves.
The barriers to entry to the less-than-truckload space among brokers and carriers are also falling away. While companies tried to overcome the obstacles of dimensional pricing and rate forecasting, those same insights are becoming more attainable and easier to visualize.
For instance, using FreightWaves SONAR, carriers and brokers can gauge profitability, recognize how rates are moving and use that information to diversify their client base freight and offer more service that’s not quite up to the full scale of truckload, protecting against truckload capacity issues and more. In other words, they are able to stay more strategic when it comes to consolidating parcels, optimizing routes and knowing when to accept or reject a load. That’s what it all comes down to and can be a major way for shippers to find a way to move freight at a fraction of the cost of full truckload, while also reaping savings compared to parcel-only shipping too.
Take a moment to think about what freight consolidation really means. It’s seeing and applying analytics data from across the network to combine smaller shipments into the next higher class or mode. As the modes expand to truckload, the cost of transportation becomes lower. However, that can be a misnomer when rates are highly volatile.
For instance, TL rates may be lower in one area but much higher in another. The inability to see those rates in real-time and higher acceptance rates in lanes with a lower risk of rejections may indicate overspending. Regardless, the goal must be the same – find the best rates for the freight that needs to move today. And less-than-truckload offers a way to combine freight to take advantage of market dynamics and even initiate short-term mini-bids, avoiding higher rejection rate trouble, to secure capacity without the typical commitments inherent in full truckload contracts.
Shippers can increase carrier diversity and network size by increasing their average volume through freight consolidation, which takes advantage of both truckload and less-than-truckload shipping. In 2021, it will be imperative for shippers to start thinking about less-than-truckload as more than a nice-to-have resource. It will become a necessity as capacity and rates move in response to the market dynamics. And similarly, carriers and brokers could use the same insights to increase profitability and protect against the instability that will return when the rates swing in the opposite direction. Ultimately, it’s time to realize that less-than-truckload is a critical player in the overall logistics landscape. Get started by requesting a FreightWaves SONAR demo by clicking the button below.


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Chrome OS, the web focused operating system for netbooks could be making its debut soon according to reports on VentureBeat. The website has heard from sources that Acer could be unveiling Chrome OS based devices during the Computex Taipei show that is to be held between the 1st and 5th of June this year.
It is not entirely clear what kind of devices could be up on display. While Chrome OS is built for netbooks, it can also be used on tablets and smartbooks – devices that run on ARM kind of processor infrastructure.
Also, how closer the device is to launch remains to be seen. TechCrunch points out that while Chrome OS is “coming along quickly“, it is not ready as yet.
Nevertheless, it just makes sense to hold on to another two weeks to hear from Acer about this.
Forget the demand for such a product, but every CEO and his mom now want to be in the tablet race now that such a category has become an official reality. According to Rodman Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar, Nokia may be talking to suppliers and design manufacturers over an upcoming tablet device.
The idea is not exactly ridiculous. My personal opinion is that you do not need an extra device simply to “consume media“. However, now that several hundred thousand iPads are reportedly sold, it also means the consumers have been officially sold to the concept of a media consumption device. And considering that these are still early days for the segment, Nokia – even if it looks apparently late, can still have an early mover advantage depending on what features it brings to the tablet and how it is positioned.
But it also needs to be noted that Nokia has not had a killer product in quite some time. Maybe it’s time to turn the table(t)s.
Manufacturers jumping in on the tablet bandwagon is no longer news and it is a surprise that a popular manufacturer like Samsung didn’t have plans already. Anyway, we have now heard that the company is working on a tablet PC that will launch in the second half of this year.
This revelation was made by Philip Newton, the director of Samsung Australia’s IT division in a recent interview where he claimed that the tablet device will have “PC-grade processing power and connectivity” that will make up for the iPad’s shortcomings.
Close to 50 ARM based tablet devices could be launched through 2010. This was stated by Roy Chen, ARM’s ODM manager for worldwide mobile computing who says that enquiries over ARM technology for tablet devices from PC manufacturers is so intense that the company has had to rent additional floor space to show off the devices at CeBIT.
One caveat here: Not all enquiries translate into actual products. But truth is that PC and mobile manufacturers have realized the mistake in letting the iPhone have an early mover advantage in the smartphone segment and regardless of whether they see justice in serving a segment like tablet, companies are likely to launch few devices to gauge customer interest in the same.
Realizing that the iPhone and iPad have been implicitly chomping away at Sony’s market share in the portable game console market, the Japanese manufacturer is believed to be working on a smartphone and tablet device that will take on competition from Apple head on.
A recently published article on the Wall Street Journal claims that these new devices expected to launch later this year will be based on Sony’s new online media platform. Incidentally, this new media platform, tentatively named Sony Online Service will be taking on Apple’s iTunes platform to distribute music, movies, TV shows and other forms of digital content.
The specifications and price of the smartphone and tablet devices are not known as yet, though it is believed to be taking off from where the Sony eReader left; selling close to one million units since launch.
Moving into 2010, the New York Times proudly proclaimed the new year to be the year of Tablets. From what we have seen in the past few weeks, that certainly seems to be happening.
After Apple announced its iPad, we heard rumors that Google was following suit. And now in a recent chat with ZDNet, Symbian Foundation chief Lee Williams explicitly indicated that a Symbian platform based tablets are in the works. Here is what he said
“It’s very likely that, in the next year or two, you would see such a product hit the marketplace. A lot of companies are experimenting with PDA-tablet-style form factors, also for stereo systems, and internet-connected devices running low power on primarily ARM architecture — we do get occasional interest for a few of those.”
Lee Williams further talked about making the Symbian platform open to any platform that wants to work with it. He described the foundation’s Wild Ducks project as something that will help any off-the-shelf hardware to interact with their platform.
It was only a few weeks back that people were debating on the need for a Tablet-like device. Now, with so many companies jumping in, this has been one instance where the product demand is being forcefully pushed up.
Till late last year, the tablet was just a concept – a futuristic device that had been in the making for more than a decade. But in just a span of few months, things have changed. Not only did Apple demo the iPad, but there are also rumors that Google is now looking to launch their own tablet device.
Last week we had written about the likelihood of the Chrome OS supporting touch based technology. Now there are more indications of the Chrome OS being used in an iPad-like Tablet.
Concept video and pictures posted on the Chromium developers website (The Chrome open source project) give us an indication of what the Google tablet could look like. Check it out below
TechCrunch offers more insights about the device. According to their sources, there is more than one Chrome OS based tablet in the making. However, like with the Nexus One, only one of the tablet will be officially declared a Google Tablet while the rest will run on the Chrome OS and be branded with the respective manufacturers’ logo.
With a lot of these devices expected to be out by the end of the year, do you see the laptop market in danger? What are your thoughts on this?

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Xbox Series X games event revealed: Start date and time for huge July event
Xbox Series X fans have a huge date to put in the diary, with Microsoft revealing when they will be holding their highly anticipated Xbox Game Studios event. On Thursday July 23 the Xbox Games Showcase event will be held, revealing more details on the first-party games Microsoft has lined-up for the Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X July event will have a start time of 5pm BST, with Geoff Keighley holding a pre-show that kicks of at 4pm.
Announcing the news the Xbox UK Twitter posted: "Xbox Games Showcase July 23rd 5pm BST.
"@SummerGameFest Pre-Show at 4pm BST with @GeoffKeighley on @YouTubeGaming #XboxGamesShowcase".
The upcoming Xbox Games Showcase follows on from the third-party Series X games event that the Xbox team held back in May.
This time around though, the focus will be on the first-party titles heading to the Xbox Series X - which is launching during the holiday season this year.
Microsoft has been buying up tonnes of talented studios in recent years, such as Obsidian, Double Fine and Ninja Theory.
While the Redmond-based tech giant has also set up their 'AAAA' studio The Initiative that is filled with top talent, and anticipation surrounding what they're working on is sky high.
Xbox Series X fans will surely be hoping they'll see some of the fruits of this labour during the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase event in just a few weeks time.
We know for certain that Microsoft will showcase more on Halo Infinite, which is set to be a Xbox Series X launch title.
There are also rumours that we could get confirmation on two long standing rumours - that the Xbox Series X will be getting new games in the Fable and Perfect Dark series.
Fable 4 is rumoured to be in development with Playground Games, while The Initiative are allegedly working on a reboot of Perfect Dark.
While hopefully we'll see more on Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 also, which debuted in some style last year during The Game Awards 2019 event.
It remains to be seen what else Microsoft has planned for the Xbox Games Showcase event, with plenty of surprises likely to be in store.
One leaker had claimed that the Xbox team were planning a series of "mic drops" that will leave their rivals feeling "shaken".
As with any rumour, it's best to take that with a big dollop of salt though and to try to temper expectations.
But there is one long-awaited announcement that looks like it will be skipping the upcoming Xbox Series X July event.
Microsoft are rumoured to have a lower priced, next-gen model codenamed Lockart in development.
This is rumoured to have a price tag of as low as $200, but will be down on specs compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
While the Xbox Series X boasts 12 teraflops of power and the PS5 is capable of 10.28TFs, Lockhart is rumoured to be capable of 4TFs - the same as the Xbox One.
Lockhart is also rumoured to only be capable of outputting to 1080p, compared to the Xbox Series X and PS5 which is capable of up to 8K.
It's been claimed the Lockhart reveal had been planned for July, but will now be unveiled in August.
Lockhart is still expected to feature a SSD like the Series X and PS5 does, and will play Series X games - offering a low-cost entry point into next-gen gaming.


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India’s startup scene is on the rise, but the sector faces tough competition from companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon in global markets.
India is one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the world, with an estimated $16 billion in annual revenue.
But it is still not a major player in the global software market, where Google, Amazon, and Microsoft account for more than half of the companies that are active on the market.
The biggest tech firms are still mostly based in Silicon Valley, with a few exceptions.
But the country is poised to become one of a handful of places that will compete aggressively in the emerging global software industry, with Indian companies hoping to make a splash in an increasingly crowded field.
“India is a huge opportunity for our startup ecosystem, and we will continue to work with the government to accelerate the development of these companies,” said Vishnu Prasad, CEO of Web Development & Consulting India Pvt.
The startup was established last year in Kathma, a sprawling city in central Nepal.
The company’s first venture is focused on the local infrastructure of a software platform to build applications for public-sector entities, which will be built in partnership with the Indian government.
The company has already received more than 200 applications from developers across the country.
The team is working with developers in three cities, including Kathmanduk, to make the platform available for private developers, said Prasud.
The Indian government is actively working on setting up a government-sponsored startup incubator, which Prasuda said is in the early stages of discussions with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, but is expected to have a “big impact” on the sector.
“We are in the process of launching an incubator,” he said.
The Indian government also has an ambitious plan to help small startups with funding.
According to the Ministry, startups with a net worth of less than $1 million will receive up to Rs1 lakh each.
Prasud said that he sees many opportunities for the startup ecosystem in India.
“It is a fast-growing industry, so there is a lot of opportunity,” he told The Washington Times.
“India is the largest user of foreign direct investment (FDI), and a lot is happening in that area.
We hope to make it a hub for this kind of business.”
The country also has a relatively young startup scene.
The country’s Startup Hub, a government initiative to attract more foreign investment, was launched in 2010.
In the first five months of 2017, it has received more money than any other Indian startup, with almost $4 billion from the government and other investors.
In addition, India is the second largest market for international Internet firms after the U.S., according to a 2017 report from TechData.
But its software ecosystem is still struggling to catch up with that of the U., which has more than a billion users, and with China, which has nearly 20 million users.
India’s software ecosystem was built on the back of a legacy of decades of software development and government subsidies, and its success was built largely on its IT and telecom infrastructure.
The government provided more than $2 billion in grants to small and medium-sized enterprises in 2017.
It also gave more than 40,000 jobs to young entrepreneurs, including many from small towns and villages, to boost the growth of the sector, according to the government.
Despite the government’s efforts, there are still a number of challenges that remain for Indian startups, Prasod said.
For example, he said, the Indian software market is still relatively small compared to the U, which is the world’s largest market, with more than 60 percent of the global tech market.
He said that the country’s IT infrastructure has a long way to go to become the global hub it needs to be.
The government is also encouraging the private sector to set up a hub, which the government expects will create a “new set of business opportunities for Indian companies.”
It is also investing in the nascent online marketplace, where Indian firms are selling their services to their foreign customers.
The growth of India’s tech sector has been buoyed by a number new startups that have emerged in recent years.
TechBizz was founded in 2009 in Kathwa, the capital of Nepal.
It has since grown to become a global startup with more more than 20 employees, according the company.
The firm’s first app, a business application, is used in more than 15 million businesses worldwide.
TechBiz is based in New Delhi, India.
The business software company is also growing rapidly in other cities, such as Kolkata, Bangalore, and Chennai.
The number of employees has also grown from 5 to 10.
“TechBizzle is growing quickly because it’s our local app, and it has a very robust business model,” said Ravi Bose, co-founder and chief executive officer of


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The world's biggest software maker is creating a new group charged with making its Windows software work across all devices. Microsoft is also jettisoning some top executives, including former Nokia chief Stephen Elop.
The firm has been saying that Win 10 will work on any device, a strategy it sees as crucial. But Microsoft has been all but missing on phones. Call in the new Windows and Devices Group.
Out go the finance, marketing, and operations chiefs as BlackBerry works to reinvigorate its ailing operation.
As Sony seeks "new ways to innovate" its movie and music business, it creates the role of president for the unit and promotes an insider.
The discount airline CEO says Google's project "blows the competition out of the water."
New CEO Don Mattrick is said to be holding an all-hands meeting Tuesday to address the executive shuffle and his vision for the company.
Wall Street analysts are weighing in on yesterday's Apple's management shuffle. The consensus? Don't panic.
Gil Amelio was a highly regarded tech executive. But his ouster as CEO paved the way for the return of Apple's prodigal son, Steve Jobs.
Software giant loses longtime Windows boss Steven Sinofsky, while Apple loses a patent foe. Also: Embarrassing e-mail goes to Washington.
The company's shares, which have edged down since late September, continue to fall as market digests word that two top executives are on their way out.


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Business leaders call for action against cyber crimes
Oct 24, London: Business leaders have urged for urgent action to tackle cyber-crime following the TalkTalk attack, calling it one of the biggest threats facing companies.The Institute of Directors (IoD) said only "serious breaches" made the headlines, but attacks on British businesses "happen constantly".
TalkTalk revealed on Thursday it had been the victim of a cyber-attack in which the personal and banking details of up to four million of its customers may have been accessed by hackers.The company said it was too early to say just how many customers had been affected, and a criminal investigation has been launched on the attack.
Here are a few things you can do if you think you are at the risk of being hacked:
Report any unusual activity on your accounts to your bank and the UK's national fraud and internet crime reporting centre Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk
TalkTalk is advising customers to change their account password as soon as its website is back up and running and any other accounts for which you use the same password
Beware of scams: TalkTalk will not call or email customers asking for bank details or for you to download software to your computer, or send emails asking for you to provide your password
The Oslo Times


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Post-COVID-19, the global display panel market is projected to grow from USD 107.0 billion in 2020 to USD 152.0 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 7.3%. The estimation for 2020 is down by ~26% compared to the pre-COVID-19 estimate.
The global semiconductor IP market is anticipated to garner at a CAGR of 14%, reveals Market Research Future (MRFR). The market is ready to strike a valuation of USD 2-3 billion by 2023 after touching USD 856.88 million in 2017.
Market Research Future has asserted in their report that the worldwide automated 3D printing market reflected a value of USD 152.3 mn during 2017 and is likely to generate a revenue of USD 1,837.6 mn by the conclusion of review period.
The global SerDes market, according to the report published by Market Research Future (MRFR), is slated to reach a substantial market valuation at a moderate CAGR of 15.27% during the forecast period (2018-2025).
Augmented Reality in Retail Market by Offering (Hardware and Software), Device Type (Head-Mounted, Smart AR Mirror), Application (Try-On Solution, Planning & Designing), Retail Type (Furniture, Beauty & Cosmetics) Global Forecast to 2025
The global cardiac rhythm management devices market size is expected to touch USD 35.22 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2019 to 2026, according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research.
global network security appliance market 2020 is booming and expected to grow exponentially over the review period, recording a substantial market valuation from USD 8.45 billion in 2018 to USD 13.97 billion by 2023


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When it comes to marketing boards, Stephen Harper's government picks its battles.
Last month, the Conservatives tabled long-promised legislation to end the Canadian Wheat Board's monopoly on western wheat and barley, a monopoly that's been in place since 1943. Until now, Prairie farmers have been obligated to sell their barley or wheat to the Wheat Board or face jail time. The structure was intended to countervail power between farmers and grain buyers, and it worked for decades. The global economy has changed, however, and many farmers want out.
Ending the Wheat Board's monopoly is a contentious move that has deeply divided rural Canada in the Prairies for decades. That division has been mainly among farmers, although more and more have progressively been embracing the virtues of free-market enterprise. Since Canada is following in the footsteps of many other countries that have done the same thing in the past, it was just a question of time.
Now that we have some clarity on the future of the Canadian Wheat Board, at least from a political standpoint, attention is slowly turning toward supply management.
Supply management controls domestic production and imports for five specific commodities: eggs, milk, chicken, turkey and broiler-hatching eggs. While supply management regulates domestic production based on consumer demand to guarantee decent returns for farmers, Canada has high import tariffs for these commodities. It's heaven on Earth for many farmers in Canada. While Canadian supply management does not concern more than a few lobby groups in the country, it has been highly contested abroad. The Wheat Board's monopoly and supply management are correlated: Both are bureaucratic marketing boards that distort trade and undermine entrepreneurial know-how and innovative thinking in Canadian agriculture.
But even though the trade-happy Harper government is keen to end the Wheat Board's monopoly, it has been supportive of supply management. Some people believe this disjuncture constitutes a paradox in the government position. Not quite, for two reasons.
The first is based on consumer psyche. The Harper government understood years ago that consumers do not buy wheat or barley, but they do buy milk, chicken and eggs. A government can argue its way out of a grain monopoly on the basis of economics alone, whereas discussions of supply management are politically charged and difficult to command. Supply-managed farmers base their argument on food sovereignty and safety concerns, which consumers trust the farmers to know best. Urbanites' lack of farming knowledge makes most Canadians likely to believe farmer groups. The government would lose this game most of the time.
The national political landscape is another reason. Since its inception, the new Conservative Party has been desperate to garner support in Quebec and Ontario, where supply management is king. And now that the Conservatives owe their majority to Ontario, they should not be expected to discuss supply management any time soon.
Changes to supply management will be forced on Canada externally, through free-trade negotiations with other countries. It may not happen under this government, but it will happen eventually. Food politics condemns Canada to wait for the bagpipers to end supply management. Let's hope that, unlike the Canadian Wheat Board, which is still challenging the government, supply-managed farmers will have the foresight to befriend change – and get on with it.
Sylvain Charlebois is an associate dean and professor at the University of Guelph's College of Management and Economics.


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Mercedes-Benz Group (OTCPK: MBGYY) said on Tuesday that it sold 515,700 vehicles in the second quarter, including 56,300 battery-electric vehicles. The 6% year-on-year surge in sales was driven by increased demand for battery electric and top-end vehicles like Maybach and G-Class over the quarter.
Battery electric vehicle sales worldwide rose 123% on the back of increased EQA, EQB, and EQE sedan demand, the company said in a statement.
In the U.S., sales touched 88,100 units, an increase of 6% as compared to the corresponding quarter last year. Battery EV sales jumped a whopping 697% in the country.
However, Mercedes’ overall year-to-date sales in the rest of the world outside Europe, Asia and North America are lagging 18% as compared to last year owing to the company’s decision to withdraw from Russia starting March 2022, it said.
Last week, Mercedes announced that customers in North America will gain access to the Tesla Supercharger network starting in 2024. It will initially offer an adapter allowing its users to charge on the network and later implement NACS ports into its new electric vehicles starting in 2025. The automaker termed it “another step towards accelerating the shift to electric vehicles.”
Mercedes is the first German automaker to adopt Tesla’s charging standard.
© 2023 Zenger News.com. Zenger News does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Produced in association with Benzinga
Edited by Arnab Nandy
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Counterfeit cigarettes containing arsenic, rat droppings, mould and lead are being sold to growing numbers of children at illegal "fag houses" across the county.
The poisons have been found in cigarettes seized in raids. Police, customs and Trading Standards are now cracking down on the smugglers behind the operation.
They say "fag houses" are homes on normal estates where criminals sell cheap cigarettes and tobacco to locals.
Many customers are children who are too young to be served elsewhere.
Smokefree Lincs Alliance – the body set up to reduce smoking in the county – believes there are "fag houses" operating in Lincoln, Sleaford, Boston and Mablethorpe.
Many of their cigarettes are smuggled or counterfeit.
Alliance spokesman Ros Watson said if action is not taken now, there will be grave consequences.
"People go to fag houses under the misconception that the dealer has been abroad and brought back a load of cigarettes and tobacco to help the community and avoid the nasty taxman – it's almost seen as a Robin Hood crime," she said.
"But what we want to get across is that this isn't a Robin Hood crime any more.
"If we don't tackle young people smoking, we're going to have an epidemic in ten, 15 or 20 years' time.
"There's also evidence nationally to suggest that cigarettes are being sold to young people through ice cream vans and they can get them in 'ones' with a match for about 50p. We do know it does happen, but what we don't know is where."
Cigarettes at "fag houses" tend to originate from China and eastern Europe. The criminals running them are often linked to wider networks.
Lincolnshire Trading Standards, Lincolnshire Police and HMRC are cracking down on the problem at its source.
It has resulted in arrests following the seizure of almost seven tonnes of smuggled tobacco, near Louth.
And earlier this year, two men from Lincolnshire were charged with offences relating to 12 million smuggled cigarettes and 645 kilos of tobacco. HMRC spokesman Maddy Ratnett said: “Those involved are not concerned if they are selling to children and underage young people and the illicit trade is having a devastating impact on the local communities. “Low cost tobacco can often seem very attractive to local people, lured into purchasing them at what seems like bargain prices. “However, the truth is these goods have been smuggled and these sales are unlicensed and unregulated.”Many of the cigarette brands seized in Lincolnshire are what are known as “illegal whites”, including Jin Lin and L&M’s. They are effectively made purely for smuggling and often obtained in large quantities by organised crime gangs who smuggle them into the UK. Lincolnshire Police spokesman James Newall said: “In most communities, it’s known that there are these properties where cheap cigarettes are for sale. “Regardless of the fact people under the age of 18 shouldn’t be purchasing cigarettes, if they are counterfeit they could contain extremely harmful substances which would make people who smoke them seriously ill. “Parents need to be aware of this and make sure their children are properly educated on the dangers.“We carry out a number of successful operations every year, but we do rely heavily on community information, so if anyone knows about anywhere in the area where these cigarettes can be bought, please call us as soon as possible.”Contact Lincolnshire Police on 101. Alternatively, anyone with any information on illicit cigarettes and tobacco can also call Lincolnshire Trading Standards on 01522 782341.


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February 4, 2021
We’re all familiar with the old adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It’s right up there with Hippocrates’ “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” and “You are what you eat” in the annals of nutrition aphorisms.
Apples make a great presentation in the produce section of your store. A new study validated the saying.
Published in the February issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the new study ups the ante, finding that not one but two apples drive beneficial effects, at least on markers of cardiovascular disease.
In the study, 43 British adults ate two Renetta Canada apples a day. The two apples contained 8.5 grams of fiber a day. The study subjects at the outset had cholesterol levels ranging between 200-239 ng/dL—considered “borderline high” as the total cholesterol number everyone knows is to keep things below 200.
By the end of the eight-week study, the apple eaters experienced a modest 3.6% reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol as well as a 10% cut in triglyceride levels. By comparison, statin drugs lower total cholesterol at least 20% and, depending on the dose, can double that amount—or more.
“The potential ability of apples to reduce serum total cholesterol has been attributed mainly to the fiber fraction, pectin in particular,” wrote the researchers. “However, polyphenols may also play an important role.”
Apples are excellent sources of fiber (about 2-3 grams per apple), which can improve bowel movements and so-called “transit time.” This apple fiber, or pectin, helps digestion because it helps turn water into a gel in the intestines, which slows down the digestive process. The pectin is largely found in the skin.
Apple skin also contains polyphenols (about 110 mg per apple). The polyphenols include the flavanols called proanthocyanidins (PACs) and catechins. Previous studies have found polyphenols can lower total cholesterol levels, raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol, inhibit LDL (“bad”) cholesterol oxidation, and block inflammatory responses in atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries—the leading cause of death worldwide.
The British researchers cited previous studies that showed pure apple polyphenols at daily doses between 600 and 1,500 mg also decreased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The amount of pectin might not be sufficient alone to lower total cholesterol, which gives credence to the idea that polyphenols also play a role.
A recent study, from 2020, also looked at eating apples vis a vis cardio conditions. It found an apple a day was associated with a reduced risk of death by cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes. Like the new study here, this 2020 study found an apple a day reduced total and LDL cholesterol, as well as systolic blood pressure and C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation.
While the decrease in cholesterol levels was just modest, plenty of other studies show apples have other positive health benefits.
Type 2 diabetes: A few years ago researchers conducted a meta-analysis concerning apple as well as pear consumption as it relates to type 2 diabetes occurrence. They identified five studies comprised of more than 228,000 participants. They showed that eating apples and pears was associated with an 18% reduction in the risk of diabetes. What’s more, every day per week people ate an apple was associated with an additional 3% risk reduction.
Cancer: A German cancer researcher concluded that an apple a day seemed to reduce the risk for lung and colon cancer. Food frequency questionnaires are not exactly precise because people cannot reliably remember every food item at every meal. Still, a 15-year study among women older than age 70 found those said they ate an apple a day had a lower risk of deaths by any cause and also specifically by cancer.
Microbiome: Apple skins hold most of the nutritional value. The polyphenols therein are hardy enough to last all the way to the lower GI tract. There, studies show the apple components actually change the microbial composition and can otherwise positively interact with the gut microbiota. One study found the Renetta Canada apples improved microbiota composition. That’s because pectin in apples is a fiber, which is the food source of bacteria. One study, which also used two apples a day, found that after two weeks, the two apples a day increased the numbers of bifidobacterium and lactobacillus in stool samples of the people being studied.
Which apple varieties are best?
Think that if you’ve seen one apple you’ve seen ’em all? Of course you don’t think that–it’s why retailers put out a range of apple varieties.
Apples are delicious, except for the red delicious type, which no doubt got its name because it actually is not so exceptionally delicious. (Remember the Flavr Savr tomato, the first GMO tomato? It was created so it was firm and could be shipped around the country; flavor was the last thing the scientists had in mind.) And like so many things in the fruit and vegetable world, the health benefits come largely from the skin.
One study looked at a variety of apples—red delicious, granny smith, fuji, golden delicious and annurca. When looking two apples a day on at total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, annurca fared best, lowering levels by 8.3% and 14.5%, respectively, and an increase in HDL by 15.2%.
Another study looked at the antioxidant activity and anti-cancer activity of a range of apples. These included Rome beauty, idared, Cortland and golden delicious applies. The researchers noted that the peels contained the highest antioxidant activity, most of the phenolic compounds and were the part of the apple that most effectively inhibited the growth of human liver cancer cells.
The apple varieties with the highest total phenolic contents and flavonoids were the idared and Rome beauty. Idared apple peels had the most anthocyanins and greatest antioxidant activity. Rome beauty apple peels showed the most bioactivity.
And you know how it’s fashionable around camp to say that eating an apple is a decent replacement for brushing teeth? One recent study found that eating an apple is similar to tooth brushing in terms of reducing bacterial viability in the saliva. However, it does not remove dental plaque. In a pinch, an apple a day might just fill in the gap, but in the long term they will not keep the dentist away.
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Federal Court Overturns Broadcast Flag
"In a stunning victory for hardware makers and television buffs, a federal appeals court has tossed out government rules that would have outlawed many digital TV receivers and tuner cards starting July 1.
"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that the Federal Communications Commission did not have the authority to prohibit the manufacture of computer and video hardware that doesn’t have copy protection technology known as the ‘broadcast flag.’ The regulations, which the FCC created in November 2003, had been intended to limit unauthorized Internet redistribution of over-the-air TV broadcasts."
Declan McCullagh. Court Yanks Down FCC’s Broadcast Flag. News.com. May 6, 2005.
Electronic Frontier Foundation. Federal Appeals Court Scraps FCC’s Broadcast Flag Mandate. Breaking News. May 6, 2005.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. American Library Association, et al., v. Federal Communications Commission and United States of America. (.pdf) May 6, 2005.
Electronic Frontier Foundation. Waving Flags of Victory. Deep Links. May 6, 2005.
Electronic Frontier Foundation. American Library Association v. Federal Communications Commission. No date.
Declan McCullagh. Are PCs Next in Hollywood Piracy Battle?. News.com. Nov. 5, 2003.


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Amazon Wants Trump to Testify in $10bn Pentagon Contract Lawsuit
Amazon has asked that President Donald Trump give testimony in a lawsuit the internet giant is taking against a decision not to award it a $10 billion contract to provide cloud computing to the Pentagon. Amazon wants depositions from the President as well as Defense Secretary Mark Esper and his predecessor, Jim Mattis.
“President Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to use his position as president and commander-in-chief to interfere with government functions — including federal procurements — to advance his personal agenda,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
“The question is whether the president of the United States should be allowed to use the budget of the Department of Defense to pursue his own personal and political ends,” Amazon said.
The contract was awarded to Microsoft and the Defense Department claims there was no external influence on the decision. However, President Trump has frequently attacked Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. Bezos owns the Washington Post, which Trump believes is biased against him.
The President has repeatedly used the phrase ‘Amazon Washington Post’ to attack the newspaper and its’ owner. However, it is unclear whether Amazon will succeed in compelling a deposition from Trump. This is an unusual case and the outcome cannot be easily predicted.


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Friday, February 17, 2012
Pinwheel, Latest Startup of Flickr Co-founder, Debuts
Pinwheel, a new startup headed by Flickr co-founder Caterina Fake, has launched into private beta, saying that it is looking to let users leave notes and photos to other people around the world. The startup--which is backed by Redpoint, True, Betaworks, Founder Collective, SV Angel, Obvious Corp, along with angels--said it is available for private beta on the web, with an iOS version coming soon. Pinwheel lets users tag specific locations with notes and photos, which other users can interact with. Details of the funding were not announced.


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Dell’s $3.9 billion deal with Google to buy Epson is the biggest tech deal to hit the US in the past five years
Dell announced today that it has agreed to buy Google for $3 billion, putting the chip maker on the verge of buying the biggest company in the world.
The deal was announced during a conference call between Dell and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, which was not available online.
Google was founded in 1999 and has a market cap of $68 billion.
Dell has more than 500 million employees.
The move gives Dell the biggest acquisition in US history, according to analysts.
The company also said that it plans to add $300 million in cash to the acquisition.
The $3-billion deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
Dell said that the acquisition will create about 1,500 jobs.
The company said it plans on adding additional employees to the Dell Epson team.


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Ken Height with his former courser Credit Cruncher. PIC: CLINT ANDERSON
TRAINER WELCOMES TRAVEL PAYMENTS IN 2013
Top coursing trainer Ken Height has welcomed the introduction of travel payments for coursing.
Greyhound Racing Victoria recently announced that as per TAB racing, standard $70 travel payments will be paid for coursing (via direct credit) for the first time in 2013.


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Redmond, WA & New York, NY (November 14, 2006)–Microsoft’s much noted Zune player debuts today at stores across the U.S. Heavily hyped as the software giant’s bid to topple Apple’s ubiquitous iPod, the 30GB player, which sports a 3-inch screen, marks Microsoft’s second attempt to muscle into the market, following its failed PlaysForSure effort a few years ago. Helping promote the new media player, free concerts featuring acts like Queens of the Stone Age and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were held in conjunction with the release; Bill Gates himself gave away a player at Seattle’s event Monday, which featured a concert by Secret Machines.
Microsoft’s ZuneZune and its ensuing online download store nearly hit the shelves without support from Universal Media Group, however; UMG, the world’s largest record company, initally refused to license its tracks to the store. Late last week, however, Microsoft and UMG announced an agreement which creates a new revenue stream for UMG and its artists: in addition to the standard payments it will make to UMG for the sale of its music, Microsoft will also pay UMG a portion of Zune device sales. Since Microsoft already had agreements in place with other labels that did not include the Zune sales provision, the company plans to retroactively offer a similar arrangement to other music labels and their artists.
“This agreement with Microsoft around Zune is a significant milestone for our company and our artists,” stated Doug Morris, chairman and CEO, Universal Music Group. “This move demonstrates there can be a win-win situation where consumers have a great experience while labels and artists are also fairly compensated. We applaud Microsoft for its innovative and consumer-friendly Zune store and device.”
“At a time of transition for the music industry, Zune aims to be a leader in supporting artists and enabling the creative possibilities associated with connected entertainment. We look forward to working with the industry to make sure labels and the artists have a very bright future,” said Bryan Lee, corporate VP, Microsoft entertainment and devices. “We believe that the music consumer will appreciate knowing that when they buy a Zune device, they are helping to support their favorite artists.”
Universal Music Group


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Like Asia, European equities have gotten a lot cheaper compared to historical averages. Another simi...
Japan’s Not Ready for Liftoff
02/04/2009 12:08 pm EST
Tom Lydon, editor of ETF Trends, says Japan’s stimulus efforts haven’t really sparked much enthusiasm for Japanese stocks.
The Japanese government is getting active in their rescue plan to help salvage markets and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Their new stimulus plan is aimed at a $255 billion injection to get their economy up and running again. This second package is being implemented after a previous plan in October, which did not help resuscitate the financial markets.
A weaker yen could help the economy in the long run, as it would reignite exports. Right now, the strong yen is tamping down demand.
Among industrial nations, Japan’s goal is not only to recover from the global recession, but to be the first ones to do so. The new stimulus package also includes tax breaks and public financing projects worth millions of dollars. Japan’s economy is the world’s largest after the United States, and it shrank at a rate of 1.8% annually in the third quarter.
Japan has taken steps toward aiding small and mid-sized companies in their country, as lowered demand has made it harder for the businesses to keep afloat, and this could impact related markets and ETFs.
Last week, the Japanese government outlined a plan that will inject state money into failing companies for an exchange of equity stakes, similar to what has taken place in both Europe and the United States.
The New York Times reported that the announcement by the Trade Ministry is the most recent in a series of efforts taken by the government. Taking these stakes is seen as preferable to waiting for banks to increase lending, something they’ve been skittish about. The plan also includes handouts to taxpayers totaling $22.4 billion.
Over the past few weeks there has been a wave of profit warnings and job losses that have become common during this recession. Recent statistics showed bankruptcies in Japan jumped 24% in December from a year earlier and 33 firms that were listed were struck last year. (Exports also have dropped dramatically—Editor.)
The steps the Japanese government is taking to improve the economy and help out businesses has not pushed iShares MSCI Japan (PCX: EWJ) above its 200-day moving average. We would not recommend buying an ETF until it goes above its long-term trend line. As these policies are implemented and spur economic recovery, we should see EWJ move higher and cross above that mark. Once that happens, it might be worth looking at how EWJ fits into your portfolio.
Related Articles on GLOBAL
Since bottoming at the end of October, the MSCI Emerging Market Index (MXEA) and MSCI Asia Ex-Japan ...
China is the largest automobile market in the world, and the country has a thriving group of domesti...
Chinese e-commerce company JD.com (JD) is the second largest (by transactions) after Alibaba (BABA),...


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Home > News > Nanoparticles may help fight fraud
October 29th, 2003
Nanoparticles may help fight fraud
Barcodes peppered with magnetic particles millionths of a millimetre across could mark out fake goods and documents. Russell Cowburn of the University of Durham, UK, presented the new anti-counterfeit technology at a conference on nanotechnology in crime prevention and detection in London this week.
PCI Launches Innovative Product Line: Phosphonic Acids, Used in a Wide Variety of Commercial Applications December 6th, 2013
imec Announces Bluetooth® Smart Radio with Record Battery Lifetime: Radio paves the way to new personal health, lifestyle and smart home applications December 3rd, 2013
Waterless Car Wash Launched in South Africa November 15th, 2013
Nanomaterials database improved to help consumers, scientists track products: Database restructured to improve functionality, add scientific credibility October 28th, 2013


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The government of the Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou is assigning officials to 100 local companies including tech group Alibaba, in the latest example of a tightening of the ties between the state and private sector, said the Financial Times.
Companies including Alibaba already have communist cells embedded in their operations and top executives spend much of their time dealing with government officials on policy and other issues. Other big enterprises included in the initiative are automaker Geely and soft drinks group Wahaha.
The Hangzhou government said the “innovative” move was part of its “New Manufacturing Industry Plan.” Government representatives would service the important companies and help facilitate co-operation and communication with the government, state media Zhejiang Online reported.
Alibaba said move would function as “a bridge” between the government and private sector. “The government representative will function as a bridge to the private sector, and will not interfere with the company’s operations,” said a company spokesman.
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CUPERTINO, Calif., Oct. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amazfit today announced that its next-generation performance smartwatch GTS 3 will be available exclusively on QVC.com for a limited time, starting October 12. As a leading global brand in the smart wearables industry and broader smart technology industry, Amazfit continues to reach new heights in innovation, style, and user-tailored features across its upcoming devices.
The GTS 3 Smartwatch will carry a new powerful and intuitive smartwatch OS. Compared to the existing OS, the new OS is tailored to optimize the performance of Amazfit smart wearable devices - instead of transferring a power-draining smartphone OS to users' wrists. With style and wearability in mind, this OS will enable easier interaction and help users eliminate tedious operations when checking their health data, while lowering the power consumption by 65% compared to the previous smartwatch operating system.
With QVC as an early launch partner, the shopping network will air a segment highlighting the next generation watch on October 15 at 10 am EST on QVC's television channel.
Between October 12 and October 19, Amazfit will offer an exclusive bundle promotion for those who make the purchase on QVC's website or its airing channel. When buyers purchase a GTS 3 in Graphite Black or Ivory White at the suggested retail price of $179.99, they will also receive a Band 5 in black.
"Adding the GTS 3 Smartwatch to our arsenal of stylish, sleek, and affordable wearable technology devices is an exciting step forward as Amazfit continues to break into the American market," said Mike Yeung, chief operating officer, Huami. "We're pleased to partner with QVC to deliver the newest generation of our GTS Smartwatch to American consumers to help them live more healthy, active, and informed lives."
Huami's North American sales team will continue to partner with national and regional chains across the nation to expand the Amazfit brand, while also growing Amazfit's online presence. To learn more about becoming an authorized Amazfit dealer, please contact email@example.com.
Established in 2015, Amazfit is a leading global smart wearable brand focused on health and fitness. Amazfit offers a wide product portfolio including smart watches and bands, TWS earbuds, health & fitness devices such as smart treadmills and smart body composition scales, and sports gear. Our brand essence is Up Your Game, and we encourage users to live their passions and express their active spirits freely.
With outstanding craftsmanship, Amazfit smartwatches have won many design awards, including the German iF Industrial Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award.
Currently, Amazfit products are available in more than 90 countries and regions worldwide, across North and South America, Asia, Europe and more. Amazfit is a brand owned by Zepp Health (NYSE: ZEPP) and has shipped over 100 million devices since 2014. For more information, visit www.amazfit.com
Amazfit News Bureau (U.S.)
Amazfit (NA PR)
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The stock of commercial vehicles maker was trading at its lowest level since September 13, 2011, when it touched Rs 136 in the intra-day trade.
Tata Motors was the largest loser among the S&P BSE Sensex, which was down 0.55 per cent at 37,672 levels at 03:17 pm. In the past three months, the stock has tanked 36 per cent, as compared to a 4 per cent decline in the Sensex.
The company has delivered a lackadaisical operating performance in April-June quarter (Q1FY20) with hefty net consolidated loss led by deterioration in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) margin amid challenging global business environment for the automobile industry. Its JLR unit as well as standalone performance deteriorated with both the businesses reporting weak performance.
In light of massive slowdown in JLR’s business, higher debt level and expected cash crunch, analysts at Reliance Securities maintain ‘REDUCE’ recommendation on the stock with a revised SOTP-based target price of Rs 131 (from Rs 135 earlier).
“While volumes for JLR appear to have bottomed out, a profitable recovery with cash generation would be very gradual and challenging in a disruptive environment for the global automotive industry (particularly for luxury cars). FY21 could be a challenging year for India as well as JLR (run-out of most profitable RR/RR Sport). Further, the noise around electric vehicles, Brexit and trade war adds to the uncertainty,” analysts at Motilal Oswal Securities had said in result update with ‘neutral’ rating on the stock.


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You’ve heard plenty of political whining about the presidential campaign. But are you ready for a Chilean wine called Palin Syrah?
The wine, pronounced “pay-LEEN sih-rah,” comes from a small winery in the Limari Valley in northern Chile and has nothing whatsoever to do with moose-hunting Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
But interest in the wine has risen since Republican presidential hopeful John McCain picked Palin as his running mate.
“I’ve seen an uptick in interest and an uptick in sales,” said David Hinkle of North Berkeley Imports, the West Coast importer for the Palin syrah — certified organic and priced at about $13 a bottle — as well as two other Palin wines.
Some liberal San Franciscans apparently find Palin wine hard to swallow. Chris Cavelli, co-owner of the Yield Wine Bar, which sells Palin Syrah by the glass, says the wine was selling well before Palin was nominated, but dropped sharply afterward.
“They would just basically say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to drink that. That’s too close.’ It reminds them too much of Sarah Palin,” he said. “It’s created lots of conversation at the wine bar.”
Cepage Noir Wine in Houston has sold out of its stock of Palin Syrah, said store clerk Rose Arii.
“The wines are outstanding. Very rich, full-bodied,” Hinkle said. “There’s nothing political about the wine in any way.”


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Is This Ingredient the Key to Attracting Environmentally Conscious Diners?
Today’s diners are mission minded. They care about the health and environmental impacts of the foods they eat and choose to spend money with brands that demonstrate commitment to similar goals. Sustainability is one mission that is growing in importance in the industry.
In a recent Nationals Restaurant Association (NRA) survey, more than 66 percent of restaurant chefs identified sustainability as one of the “Hot Trends” in restaurants today. Customers are looking for restaurants to be environmentally conscious in how they source their ingredients and where their ingredients come from. Further NRA research reports that customers associate sustainability with food freshness and quality, which is an added benefit for restaurants.
Shelley Balanko, senior vice president of the Hartman Group, says customers are looking for smarter, fresher, more exciting food experiences and value fresh sourcing of ingredients in choosing where to eat. “Sustainability continues to be about doing the right thing for customers, the community, and the environment,” she said during the NRA’s 2016 Sustainability Executive Study Group. “[Consumers] want an honest account of what your goals are and where you’re at in the process. Transparency is about consumer choice—letting them see and judge for themselves. It’s the gateway to building trust with customers.”
By using more ingredients that are sustainably sourced, such as wild blueberries, restaurants can appeal to these mission-driven diners. One big reason this tiny fruit is viewed as a sustainable choice is that as the name implies, wild blueberries are not planted by man, but grow wild in places like the Maine barrens.
“Wild blueberries have been here thousands of years,” says David Yarborough, wild blueberry specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. “The plants are there as nature intended, but we’re harvesting them, which is beneficial to the plants.”
The bushes are harvested using minimally disruptive methods before they are cut as close to the ground as possible, says Kathleen Hoffman, chef and national culinary manager with USF Kitchens. Then, after two years of regrowth they are harvested again, much the same as they were when they were being harvested in the area by Native Americans.
“I really see [wild blueberries] as a legacy edible,” Hoffman says. “These plants have been around on the planet for thousands of years. You’re able to harvest them very efficiently, in a very sustainable way that produces a clean product the way Mother Nature intended it to be.”
Another important feature of wild blueberries is that they grow in areas where other crops won’t, Hoffman says, making the most of available land resources. This is largely because wild blueberries are a hearty plant well-matched for the thin, acidic soil where they grow, and they have little competition for space. The plants also use the resources that are naturally available, such as rainfall, resulting in sustainable water usage and more natural disease resistance. This means that they grow without needing much in terms of the human inputs required by most other agricultural operations to control pests and disease.
Because of all these environmental benefits, using wild blueberries as an ingredient on the menu can appeal to consumers who are more environmentally conscious. In a recent quantitative consumer survey conducted on the value of wild foods by Portland Marketing Analytics, nearly two-thirds of consumers and 77 percent of consumers living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle felt food made with wild blueberries would be more sustainable than that same food made with cultivated blueberries.
This is a plus for restaurants. Not only can using wild blueberries help attract these environmentally-conscious diners, but they help demonstrate a commitment to sustainability that can help brands increase sales. For example, Neilsen reports that 77 percent of all millennials are willing to pay more for products and services that come from companies committed to sustainability.
Restaurants can incorporate and call out wild ingredients like wild blueberries on their menus and use marketing to share all these environmental benefits that attract diners concerned with the environmental impact of the businesses they patronize. Balanko says using social media to illuminate the use of sustainable products like wild blueberries can help influence sustainability driven consumers to pick your establishment.
In addition to their small environmental footprint, wild blueberries offer restaurants a multitude of benefits, from attracting and retaining customers to providing chefs with an ingredient that has many varied uses. Their sustainable sourcing make them the perfect food to put on environmentally conscious menus.


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Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.
Microsoft has released an update to its Xbox app that allows users to access their store from anywhere. Find out the step by step guide to access the store and …
Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.


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Stacy Herzog (left) calls Sarah Reid the yin to her yang. The two mesh so ridiculously well, in fact, that after they became co-workers at a fashion company in 2009, they almost immediately decided to start a line of their own.
Right as their jewelry concept frieda&nellie was coming into focus—when it was more an idea than a company—Stacy and Sarah were stopped on the street by someone who spotted their bracelets. Turns out, said stranger was an editor at Women’s Wear Daily, and their run-in is what you call being discovered. A few months and a half page in WWD later, Stacy and Sarah realized it was time to quit their day jobs and get down to business.
The label, which pays tribute to Stacy’s grandmothers Nana Nellie and Nana Frieda, brings together bright, knotted friendship bracelets with more glitzy finds from the 1920s through 1970s. “We like the idea of combining the old and the new,” says Sarah of the some 2,000 pieces they’ve created through the years. And their bond? Well, it’s strong as ever. “It takes a very special relationship to run a business with someone,” Stacy says. “It’s been three incredible years, and while it’s been a ton of hard work, it’s also been this magical whirlwind.” —olivia seely
BEHIND THE SCENES
There’s even a patch of outdoor space.
Putting some summer-camp skills to serious use.


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In its battle with Apple over an extremist's iPhone, the FBI says neither the company nor anyone else has anything to fear. Although they want to compel assistance from Apple to unlock a phone used by San Bernardino mass ...
Microsoft on Wednesday announced a set of deals to more tightly integrate services built by other software makers into its Office suite.
Face-matching experts at the Australian Passport Office are 20 per cent more accurate than average people at detecting fraud using automatic face recognition software, new research shows.
Researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Cyber Security Research Center have discovered that virtually any cellphone infected with a malicious code can use GSM phone frequencies to steal critical information ...
Microsoft on Wednesday followed through on a promise to release versions of its widely used Word, Excel and PowerPoint programs for smartphones running on Google-backed Android software.
Ever since the Internet blossomed in the 1990s, cybersecurity was built on the idea that computers could be protected by a digital quarantine. Now, as hackers routinely overwhelm such defenses, experts say cybersecurity is ...
Microsoft is releasing new, beefed-up versions of its popular Office software apps for iPhones and iPads, part of the company's push to stay relevant to workers in an increasingly mobile world.
Microsoft is giving its MSN news service a crisper look, new lifestyle tools and seamless syncing across devices.
Canada's government on Friday ordered all federal department websites vulnerable to the "Heartbleed" bug to be shut down.
Microsoft chief Satya Nadella took to Twitter to crow on Friday as Office software tailored for iPads soared to the top of the charts at Apple's online App Store.


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With many of us still working from home over the past year, we looked to TikTok to spice up our food lives, trying everything from baked feta pasta to four-quadrant tortilla wraps. As the world opens back up, we’ll no longer be as reliant on what we can whip up in our home kitchens. What will this mean for healthy food trends in the coming year? Let’s read the tea leaves.
1. Sober curiosity goes all in
This trend has been growing for a few years and has seen a resurgence thanks to the super boozy pandemic, which drove alcohol intake to increase to worrisome levels. To help raise awareness around drinking too much, we’ve witnessed the rise of Sober October and Dry January. What’s different about the newest non-alcoholic or zero-proof offerings is that they’re well-crafted and feel just as indulgent as the real stuff — just without the hangover.
Elva Ramirez, author of "Zero Proof: 90 Non-Alcoholic Recipes for Mindful Drinking", suggests that the new wave of sober curiosity stems from health-conscious consumers who like to have lots of options. “A lot of zero proof’s popularity comes from moderate drinkers, who want to have healthy options, but may still drink alcohol…consumers love the ritual of a well-made drink but are aware of how much liquor they are having each week,” says Ramirez.
Folks who want to enjoy a warming beverage on a cold winter’s night might turn to a snifter of Nightcap from Three Spirit, a “calming, woody” blend of maple syrup, hops, turmeric and valerian root. Or maybe you’d like to put a booze-free spin on one of your favorite holiday recipes, like bourbon cake or rum balls. Now you can with zero proof versions of vodka, rum, gin, and even tequila from CleanCo, a fast-growing English brand. With no definite end in sight to the pandemic, all uplifting options are welcome.
2. Bottoms up on functional drinks
The pandemic has heightened our interest in wellness overall and beverages are a quick and easy way to infuse healthy ingredients into your day. That’s why so many of us are popping open bottles and cans of functional beverages that promise benefits ranging from gut health to better sleep to a happier outlook. Sales of functional foods and beverages grew 9.4% last year and are expected to climb higher in 2022 with people back at work and school.
While sales of traditional soda have slumped, prebiotic sodas from brands like Poppi, Gist and Olipop are bubbling up. These sparkling tonics come in nostalgic flavors including root beer, cola and grape and offer up something many of us are missing out on — fiber. Other functional beverages, like fast-growing Sunwink, use adaptogens and herbs in their sparkling tonics to offer benefits such as immune support and stress relief.
Plant-based options have exploded in recent years, which we’ve reported on before. What’s new is that so many Americans want to buy and use those products, even though they’re not going vegan. And the alternative meats are getting better, healthier and more like the protein they are aiming to replace. We recently tried the jackfruit-based nuggets from Jack and Annie’s, which have a much more chicken-like consistency than the soy or wheat gluten options we’ve had in the past. In the coming year you’ll also see pea protein nuggets from Nowadays.
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) recently found that a whopping two-thirds of Americans now report eating plant-based meat alternatives. While flexitarianism — eating mostly plants with the occasional inclusion of meat, eggs and dairy — has been popular in recent years, reducetarianism differs in that it focuses on the gradual reduction of consumption of animal products. And food brands will be delivering plenty of plant-based products to fill in those spaces. Look for new options in plant-based cheese, elevated hummus, boosted beans and more.
4. Fruity vinegars
The use of the original fruit vinegar, apple cider vinegar (ACV), as a health tonic has seen an explosion in growth in recent years. Touted for helping to aid weight loss and stabilize blood sugar, ACV has shown up in beverages, as well as gummy supplements and capsules. Now that consumers are familiar with the concept of using vinegar as an ingredient, we’re seeing more fruity options on the market.
Since one of the downsides of drinking straight ACV is that is the acid it contains can erode the enamel on your teeth, consumers have figured out other ways to incorporate vinegar into their diets, like adding them to salad dressings, smoothies, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks. They add a bright, interesting note to whatever you add them to, and come in bottles gorgeous enough to display on your kitchen counter. Some we like are the citrus-forward Parasol vinegar from Brightland and Acid League’s Mango Jalapeno living vinegar.
5. South American flavors
If 2020 forced us to become home cooks, 2021 has made us more creative with our newfound culinary skills. And the next cuisine we’ll be tackling is South American. The Spice House has seen a 50% uptick in sales this year of their aji amarillo ground spice. Aji amarillo chiles add a medium heat, warmth and fruitiness to Peruvian foods like ceviche and huancaina sauce, which is typically served over potatoes and hard boiled eggs. Less skilled chefs can sprinkle it over scrambled eggs for an elevated brunch. You’ll find these orange peppers, which add a sunny yellow color to foods, in dried form, as well as canned, ground or as a paste.
Just like TikTok introduced Americans to birria tacos, social media is giving the same treatment to South American favorites like empanadas. Expect to see these hand-held, meat- and veggie-filled pastries at more restaurants and even meal kit delivery services, like Hello Fresh.
6. Food waste fighters
With the climate change movement finally gathering momentum, consumers are looking for actionable steps they can take that fight climate change while eating their afternoon snack. Food waste in this country accounts for the equivalent of nearly 33 million cars’ worth of greenhouse gas emissions. New brands, as well as established ones, are putting the fight against food waste front and center in the coming year.
Two Good (a product from Danone), is adding a new line called Good Save that uses fruit that would have otherwise been discarded. The packaging will feature a seal that lets consumers know that the produce inside the cup would have been wasted had it not ended up in the yogurt. Upcycled sweet potatoes are the key ingredient of Spudsy, a line of crunchy snacks, which saves about 15,000 ugly sweet potatoes with each truckload of their sweet potato puffs and fries.
Rind Snacks, which sells dried fruit with the nutrient-rich skin and peel on, saved over 120,000 pounds of edible fruit peels from going to landfills last year and plans to divert 1 million pounds next year. Of the nearly 40 million tons of food that are wasted each year, fruits and vegetables make up 30% to 40%. By keeping the skins on their dried kiwis, watermelon and pears, Rind is making zero waste snacks. And newly launched Otherworld, makes plant-based pancake and waffle mixes using cauliflower, beetroot, bananas, apples and more that would have been tossed on a landfill.
7. Brain supporting foods
New products, from bars to powders, are being offered to consumers with the promise of promoting a healthy brain. TODAY contributor Maria Shriver and son Patrick Schwarzenegger’s new company, MOSH, has created a line of bars with brain supporting vitamins, adaptogens and grass-fed protein. Some of the proceeds from the bars will be donated to the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, which Maria founded to help fund brain research on women, who make up two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients. Schwarzenegger says that MOSH will expand the brand’s portfolio in the coming years.
Memore, a powdered supplement developed at the North Carolina Food Innovation Lab along with NC State University, utilizes the science and research behind the MIND Diet, which has been shown to reduce Alzheimer’s risk by as much as 54%. Memore is made from plant-based ingredients with brain supporting benefits including, blueberries, beets, spinach and sweet potatoes. The idea is that since Americans aren’t getting enough of these nutrient-packed foods into their daily diets, a powder — which can be added to smoothies or stirred into a glass of water — is a more efficient way for us to get the benefits of these foods. An aging population means that Alzheimer’s numbers will continue rising, and since diet makes an impact, expect to see more brain foods on the horizon.
As we all establish new normals in our eating and drinking habits, it’s nice to know we’ll have plenty of tasty and feel-good foods to help us reach our wellness goals in 2022.


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The Barry Callebaut Group announced that the European Patent Office has awarded their patent EP 2 152 091 on reduced fat chocolate. With this patent, the Barry Callebaut Group continues to broaden its innovation-based product offering of reformulated products. The company is now able to offer its customers an additional solution for products with a better energy balance and an improved composition – without compromising on taste.
The patented process makes it possible to manufacture milk chocolate with only 25% of fat by weight (a similar milk chocolate has 36% of fat). The process consists of a means to refine fat-coated particles before the traditional conching step. Barry Callebaut can apply this newly developed processing technique for products used in applications like enrobing (bars and biscuits) and moulding (tablets, pralines).
The patent on reduced fat chocolate is a new addition to the Barry Callebaut Group's portfolio of now more than 30 international filed patents.
"Calorie management is high on consumer wish list"
“Some consumers are looking for ways to reduce their calorie intake. Finding their favorite indulgence with fewer calories is high on the wish list. Reducing the fat content has bigger impact on calories than reducing sugar. Calorie reduction is an even bigger challenge in chocolate as both fat and sugar reduction is needed. It is all about finding the right balance. Barry Callebaut has a long history in reformulation in a responsible way. With the new processing technique we continue to offer to our customers solutions that will help them to reformulate their products without compromising on taste,“ says Marijke De Brouwer, Program Manager Authenticity and Permissibility at the Barry Callebaut Group.


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This week’s broadcast of Eye on Travel comes from the Signature Travel Network Annual Global Summit at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. We’ll have another update on the Boeing 737 Max, which will most likely stay grounded through the second quarter of 2020. Then, a report on what to expect in the world of travel for next year, with Alex Sharpe, President and CEO of Signature Travel Network. Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, and Clark Massad, Vice President of Global Partnerships for IGLTA, on the evolution of gay and lesbian travel. Then, we’ll take a deep dive into the Las Vegas strip and the latest news on a city constantly reinventing itself with “Flip the Strip” radio host, Melinda Sheckells. There’s all of this and more as Eye on Travel broadcasts from the Signature Travel Network Annual Global Summit at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click here to listen to the show streaming live from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 14, 2019.
Have a travel question? Then ask Peter. E-mail him at email@example.com, or tweet your questions to @petersgreenberg (include #AskPeter).
Alex Sharpe, President & CEO of Signature Travel Network, talks about how just going to a country can be a way of giving back because you are putting money into that location’s economy. There are many additional ways to participate and as travel advisors, they are collecting more information on giving back than ever because more travelers are looking at the impact their travel can have on a destination. Before joining Signature he was a part of Kinkos, which taught him two important things: customer service and attention to detail.
Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, expounds on the definitions of luxury which he feels is about your experience and your return on investment of your time. Then, he dives into different companies’ implementation of sustainable measures, such as soap dispensers instead of individual plastic bottles. He also explains what the Luxury Institute does, which is to act as a think tank and it surveys affluent members around the world so that luxury brands know their target markets.
Clark Massad, Vice President of Global Partnerships for IGLTA, describes the organization’s founders’ mission to utilize travel in dispelling misconceptions and prejudices towards gays and lesbians by presenting the communities in a positive light. There is an undeniable economic element, and it educates brands and locations that gay and lesbian travelers devote a higher percentage of their disposable income towards travel and leisure activities. The impact of LGBTQ+ travel in the U.S. market alone is estimated to be more than $100 trillion. He also addresses that although major cities tend to be welcoming, once you get out of urban areas, many countries are not as accepting and even still criminalize the LGBTQ+ community.
Kareem George, CTA Principal at Culture Traveler, LLC, addresses the rise in exotic travel and his definition of those locations as anything that is not a part of the usual suspects. There’s always travel to Europe, and South America is no longer a new trend. Places like Rwanda, Uganda, and Western Australia are having a surge of travel as people try to travel to locations they have not previously gone. One destination that is having a resurgence is Egypt, which is not a surprise given the amount of historical sites to visit and explore. It’s not just the traditional pyramid spots, there are many lesser-known pyramids to explore and other locations that visitors are now starting to discover.
Matt Cervone, President of Just Cruises & Vacations, explains how he tends to see people planning further in advance for cruise travel. The company develops relationships with its clients over a 20-year period. Travelers are much savvier than they were years ago, they already have an idea of where they want to go and what they want to do before they pick up the phone and call him. He finds that people are looking for an experience. Everyone wants blue water, white sands, and palm trees when they go to the Caribbean, and all the islands provide that so it’s about looking beyond that to fulfill their clients’ needs. He’s found that more people than ever are willing to spend the extra money to have overnights in destinations to get a more in-depth experience of that location. You’re also seeing people look towards adventurous destinations such as the Galapagos over a traditional European or leisure cruise.
Brock Radke, Las Vegas Journalist, talks about the developments in Las Vegas over the last year and what we can expect to see in 2020. One of the biggest changes to the city has been the increase in pro sports teams. The fans are just as crazy about the Golden Knights hockey team, and they are gearing up to welcome the Raiders into a new stadium that is already in construction. Although it’s just getting major league sports teams, it’s always been a sporting town. Then, he discusses the evolving food scene in Las Vegas and how you need to have a great steakhouse and a variety of ethnic food to be a competitive resort.
Melinda Sheckells, Host of “Flip the Strip” radio show, speaks about moving here from Los Angeles and never looking back. She has seen a tremendous shift in the landscape since moving here 13 years ago and how the city sheds its skin much faster than a snake does. Despite the ever-changing nature of the city, she says she hasn’t seen a brand new hotel open on the strip in 10 years. On the horizon, the strip will see two to three major resorts opening, including the Drew and Resorts World. The city has toyed with shutting down the strip to traffic, but for now, driving the strip remains Las Vegas’ best free attraction. She drives down the strip every day and has reached the point of not noticing when the volcano explodes, which signifies her being a true Las Vegas local.
Karen Schragle, Managing Partner at Wayland Travel, speaks about working with alliance carriers so travelers have protection in the long run. She explains how co-chairing works and how they do not fare the same. A New York to London flight listed as an American flight and British Airways flight will have different prices depending on which airline name you book under, even if booking through a third party like Expedia or Orbitz. The same seat on the same flight could cost you hundreds to thousands more depending on which airline you book under. As a travel advisor, she helps people navigate these varying price points with an expert perspective and resources. Her priority is making sure that her customers know what they are buying and that they are getting the best value for their money.
Eric Maryanov, President of All Travel Z, explains the growing trend of luxury cruise expeditions. Travel is always an indicator of the economy and the growth of expedition ships shows that there are people with money who have already been everywhere else. He has clients who are already booking through 2022 and would be booking 2023 if they could. As people start traveling at a younger age, they start to look to more exotic and different locations as they get older. Although the Caribbean will always be a large market, many have now been there and are looking for somewhere new.
Jonathan Ullman, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Mob Museum, speaks about how organized crime comes from all backgrounds and the museum tries to highlight that fact. It has a new space that is an interactive crime lab dedicated to forensic sciences where visitors can try their hand at ballistics investigation, DNA profiling, fingerprint analysis and more. Then, he speaks about its most iconic artifact: a wall from the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. On February 14, 1929, during prohibition, seven infamous members of the Moran gang were lined up against that very wall and shot. It was a turning point in the public perception of mobsters, who most people turned a blind eye to because they still wanted access to liquor and gambling.


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It’s been more than four years since the group-buying industry took off in Australia, promising unbeatable online cut-price deals.
The group-buying market has faced significant changes in recent times, with variations to commission models, a reduction in deal providers and a high number of consumer complaints about delays and rigid redemption terms.
The Australian group-buying industry generated around $500 million in 2013, while total online spending reached approximately $15 billion. Technology analyst firm Telsyte identified 2013’s strongest group-buying deal categories as fast-moving consumer goods, event tickets, fast-food offers and higher-priced offers aimed at the premium market.
Brian Walker, founder and CEO of retail consulting company Retail Doctor Group, says group-buying companies are about short-term marketing and will have a marginal impact on the broader e-commerce industry. “I don’t see them as a brand builder,” says Walker. “I see them as short-run promotional businesses, including clearing out distressed stock from retailers. Some have valid special offers, but there is often not a lot of depth to the offers. They are what they purport to be – high visitation, high impact, short-term ‘get in and get out’.”
A challenge they face is that retailer discounting is getting cheaper and the general online shopping industry is growing."
Brian Walker, Retail Doctor Group
There were more than 100 daily deal providers in Australia in 2012, but that number has more than halved to 40. More deal websites could also disappear before the end of 2014, believes Walker. “I think we’re going to see a further rationalisation of companies in the industry,” says Walker. “A challenge they face is that retailer discounting is getting cheaper and the general online shopping industry is growing.”
The group buying industry has also been challenged by changes in commission models, which has seen a reduction in the commission rate from 50 per cent to around 15–35 per cent.
Group buying has also suffered from consumer complaints, which brought about the voluntary introduction of an industry code of conduct as a means of restoring consumer confidence. The code of conduct aims to promote fair, honest and ethical behaviour within the industry. Member sites are now identifiable by the Group Buying Code Member logo listed on their websites and on offers, and they must ensure that all marketing and electronic messages comply with relevant legislation.
Although the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) recorded a 35 per cent drop from 1,715 complaints in 2011/12 to 1,065 in the following financial year, group buying was one of the seven official ACCC enforcement priorities for 2013.
Overselling has been a particular issue. For instance, a deal for Havaianas thongs was advertised by group-buying site LivingSocial in 2011, resulting in 100,000 pairs being sold. That caused a huge backlog in deliveries and when NSW Fair Trading contacted LivingSocial, it admitted it was unable to fulfil all the orders and instead offered refunds or credits to customers.
“If customer satisfaction was defined as every customer achieving the deal that was on offer in a seamless way, with the product they want delivered to their doorstep and meeting all their expectations, then you would have to say that fluctuations in offers and stock by virtue of a group buying model could lead to inconsistency in satisfaction.”
Telsyte predicts the emergence of deals aimed at more affluent demographics, as well as those that require consumers to commit to ongoing delivery of goods, such as health supplements and baby products.
“Group buyers will differentiate their product offering largely by the product itself,” says Walker. “One of the most valuable assets they have is the database. They want to make a profit, but in terms of their balance sheet, the value of their database is very important, just as it is for companies like Facebook.”


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Desktops and Notebooks: HP's PC Lineup for CES Boasts Touch Screens, HD Displays
As hundreds of thousands of people head toward windy and chilly Las Vegas to attend this week's Consumer Electronics Show 2011, vendors such as Hewlett-Packard and hundreds of others are busy setting up their displays for Jan. 6 start of the four-day event. When the exhibit hall doors open, several new desktop, notebook personal and business computers from HP, the world's largest maker of PCs, will be on display for demonstration purposes at the AMD/Wired Magazine Booth, the Intel Booth, and the Pepcom and Showstoppers media events. The biggest advancements in the new HP computers involve touch screens (with??íthe new MultiTouch feature) and more powerful processors. The new touch screens will be made available in larger 22- and 23-inch monitor sizes. HP also will be showing a new HP 100B All-in-One personal computer for small businesses with prices starting at a mere $499. Some new thin clients are also on the docket. Finally, HP will be showing off some new Pavilion business and entertainment-oriented laptops and Envy personal notebooks.


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Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) Shares Sold by MONECO Advisors LLC
MONECO Advisors LLC decreased its position in Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) by 10.8% in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 19,657 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock after selling 2,372 shares during the period. Apple comprises about 3.1% of MONECO Advisors LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. MONECO Advisors LLC’s holdings in Apple were worth $3,890,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of AAPL. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in Apple by 19,949.3% in the 2nd quarter. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC now owns 10,055,128 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $1,005,513,000 after purchasing an additional 10,004,976 shares during the period. H&H International Investment LLC lifted its position in Apple by 16.5% in the 2nd quarter. H&H International Investment LLC now owns 3,877,900 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $785,333,000 after buying an additional 550,300 shares in the last quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its position in Apple by 57.3% in the 4th quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 1,235,798 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $170,524,000 after buying an additional 450,098 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Apple by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 12,766,487 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $2,013,786,000 after buying an additional 417,421 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi Pioneer Asset Management Inc. lifted its position in Apple by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Amundi Pioneer Asset Management Inc. now owns 10,155,585 shares of the iPhone maker’s stock worth $1,929,054,000 after buying an additional 414,856 shares in the last quarter. 59.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on AAPL shares. Nomura increased their target price on shares of Apple from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Maxim Group cut their target price on shares of Apple to $211.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and issued a $189.00 target price on shares of Apple in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Apple in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Apple from $160.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 1st. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nineteen have issued a hold rating, twenty-four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $217.12.
Apple stock opened at $208.97 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $908.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.69 and a beta of 1.25. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $203.54. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88. Apple Inc. has a 1-year low of $142.00 and a 1-year high of $233.47.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 30th. The iPhone maker reported $2.18 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.10 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $53.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $53.39 billion. Apple had a net margin of 21.50% and a return on equity of 52.13%. Apple’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.34 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Apple Inc. will post 11.58 EPS for the current year.
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, August 12th will be issued a $0.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 9th. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.47%. Apple’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.86%.
Apple declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, April 30th that permits the company to repurchase $75.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the iPhone maker to buy up to 7.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are often a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.
Apple Company Profile
Apple Inc designs, manufactures, and markets mobile communication and media devices, and personal computers. It also sells various related software, services, accessories, and third-party digital content and applications. The company offers iPhone, a line of smartphones; iPad, a line of multi-purpose tablets; and Mac, a line of desktop and portable personal computers, as well as iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS operating systems.
See Also: What is net income?
Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AAPL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL).
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Visa Inc V has reportedly suspended its month-long partnership with the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX FTT/USD.
What Happened: On Oct. 7, Visa and FTX partnered to offer FTX-branded Visa debit cards to customers internationally — with a focus on countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia in the initial phases of the rollout.
See More: Is Ethereum a good investment?
However, only a month after, the partnership has come to an end, with FTX declaring bankruptcy, shaking the overall cryptocurrency market. “We have terminated our global agreements with FTX and their U.S. debit card program is being wound down by their issuer,” a Visa spokesperson told Reuters.
Price Action: FTT was trading at $1.32, down 26.29% in the last 24 hours, according to Benzinga Pro.
Benzinga has reached out to Visa for a comment on the story.
Image and article originally from www.benzinga.com. Read the original article here.


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Vigilance is the price of strong economiesPUBLISHED: 10 Jul 2013 00:06:05 | UPDATED: 11 Jul 2013 00:45:15PUBLISHED: 10 Jul 2013 PRINT EDITION: 10 Jul 2013
Thanks to the Campbell, Martin and Wallis inquiries of 1981, 1991 and 1997, the Australian economy was able to weather the worst of the global financial crisis storm.
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News - General News - People
Top auto industry executive joins Manheim
Former key figure at Futuris, Dexter Clarke, among senior changes at Manheim Aust/NZ
4 May 2015
By TERRY MARTIN
MANHEIM Australia and New Zealand has announced two key appointments, with Dexter Clarke joining the company as chief financial officer and Scott Andrews being promoted to director of technology.
Well known as one of the top executives at leading motor industry supplier Futuris Automotive, Mr Clarke replaces David Head who has returned to the US to take up a new position with Manheim’s parent company Cox Automotive.
Bringing more than two decades’ experience in finance and senior management positions across a range of industries to the position, Mr Clarke spent nine years at Futuris in a variety of roles including CFO, corporate affairs general manager, business development manager, group commercial finance manager and global business planning and analysis manager.
He also served as general manager of CleanTech at Futuris, and spent two years in China as financial controller of Futuris’ joint venture with Chery Automobile.
Meanwhile, Mr Andrews rises to the position of technology director after five years with Manheim in several key positions including online product and operations manager, head of product development and head of product and project management.
He previously worked for Telstra and Sensis, specialising in digital product development and online innovation.
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The already booming NFT (non-fungible token) market will experience a massive increase in volume over the next 12 months as more major investors begin to pile in, predicts Nigel Green, chief executive and founder of deVere Group.
This follows the announcement by Visa that it bought a "CryptoPunk," one of thousands of NFT-based digital avatars, for nearly $150,000 in ethereum; and as Marvel Entertainment begins unveiling its first official NFTs in the form of Spider-Man ‘digital statues.'
An NFT is a unique digital asset designed to represent ownership of a virtual item, such as artwork, music, a video clip, or tokenised tweet, amongst other representations.
Green said: "The market for NFTs hit new highs in the second quarter, with $2.5 billion in sales so far this year. This is almost 20-times more than the $13.7 million in the first half of 2020.
"With soaring interest from major investors like payments giant Visa, who understand and value that the future of almost everything is geared towards digital, demand is set to explode.
"As the big hitters pile in, their capital, expertise and reputational pulling power will attract a growing number of other investors - both retail and institutional looking to get into the market.
He added: "Demand will also be fuelled by a growing number of NFT marketplaces where you can make purchases, as well as there being more and more artists, musicians, sports, fashion, entertainment, gaming and retail brands producing digital assets to engage with consumers, clients and fans."
Green continued: "This is a market which is just getting started. There's been a surge of interest this year but I believe 2022 will be the breakout for NFTs.
"We expect there to be a massive increase in volume in the market over the next 12 months."